Self locking clothes line hanger



June 15, 1965 c. J. KLISS 3,189,323

SELF LOCKING CLOTHES-LINE HANGER Filed Aug. 21, 1962 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,189,323 SELF LOCKING CLOTHES LINE HANGER Charles .I. Kliss, 179 Palisade Ave., Garfield, NJ. Filed Aug. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 218,356 1 Claim. (Cl. 254-198) This invention relatesto an improved clothes line separating pulley guide, which is suspended from a top pulley which freely rides on the upper run of an endless clothes line, and has a loop in which the lower run of the, endless clothes line freely moves, but is effectively held captive against displacement and from entanglement with the clothes supported on the top line run, and also with the top line, so that a free running clothes line is maintained.

Another object of the invention is to provide a line guide of this type with a U-shaped frame having one end of the pulley shaft permanently connected to one end of the U-shaped frame and the other end detachably coupled in a key-hole slot formed in the opposite end of the frame, by means of a ball terminal formed on the outer and unsecured end of the pulley shaft, the line pulley being freely mounted on this shaft, and being held in service relation with the frame, until the frame is manually opened to remove the guide from the clothes line.

i A still further object of the invention is to provide a clothes line guide of this type, which can be locked on the clothes line, and which will provide two side frame bars having direct supporting bearing on the pulley shaft with a restricted loop on the lower end, which, while allowing free travel of the lower run of the clothes line, effectively holds this lower run in the loop at all times, so that there is dependable separation of the upper and lower clothes line runs and unobstructed movement of the clothes line and its load of clothes, with the least exercise of manual strength.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention comprises certain new and useful constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, clearly described in the following specification of the accompanying drawings, which show the practical application and construction of my invention: in these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, showing the use of the improved guide on a clothes line.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the guide, with the movable frame bar in its normal closed position.

FIG. 3 is a detail side view of the upper end of the guide, the lower part of the frame being broken away, showing the keyhole slot of the frame bar.

FIG. 4 is a central vertical sectional line, taken on line 44 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a detail perspective view of the upper end of the frame, showing the manner of supporting the frame on the pulley shaft, and of disconnecting one end of the pulley shaft from one end of the frame.

FIG. 8 is a detail sectional view, showing the ball terminal of the pulley shaft and the socket of the frame bar which is engaged by the ball terminal in normal service position.

FIG. 7 is a detail sectional view, showing the secured end of the pulley shaft.

FIG. 8 is a detail side view of the secured end of the pulley shaft and the engaged frame side bar.

Referring to the accompanying drawings 10 designates a U-shaped frame, constructed of steel or other suitable metal or material, having a relatively large inverted pearshaped loop 11 on its lower end and contiguous intermediate side bar portions 12 and 13, which close the opening of this loop against the upward displacement of the lower run R of the clothes line C. These intermediate side bar portions 12 and 13 are shown to be straight and the upper ends of the two side bars diverge outwardly Patented June 15, 1965 from each other by the short bar angle portions 12a and 13a, and the upper end portions of the side bars are disposed in parallel pulley supporting side bars 14 and 15, which are shown to be of equal lengths.

The side bars are thus disposed in close relation to each other, or in actual physical contact with each other, above the lower loop 11, and below the angle portions 12a and 13a, and the loop 11 exerts moderate spring tension on the entire frame to hold the side bars for their full lengths toward each other.

A pulley shaft 16 is secured to the side bar 14, the outer end of the shaft 16 being reduced'at 16a and initially formed with a hollow rivet head 16b. The reduced end 16a is extended through a mating bearing hole 14a formed in the side bar 14, and then the rivet head is clinched against this side bar to retain the shaft on this side bar for free rotation, and moderate end play, as shown in FIG. 7.

The opposite end of the pulley shaft 16 is formed with a ball terminal 160, which is slightly smaller than the semicircular lower end 17a of the keyhole slot 17, which extends upwardly thereof. The upper ends of slot 17 is smaller than the ball terminal and is directly opposite the bearing hole 14a, so the two bearings are on the same evel. upper end of slot 17 is dished inwardly as best seen in FIG. 6 to provide a bearing socket which receives ball terminal 160.

On the pulley shaft 16 a pulley wheel 18, of any material, preferably plastic or non-corrosive material, is mounted to freely turn between the side bars 14 and 15. To assemble the guide 10 on the pulley clothes line C, the side bar 15 is displaced outwardly of the pulley shaft by depressing the ball terminal so that it is in line with the semi-circular hole 17a of the keyhole slot 17, and then displacing the side bar 15, to free the pulley shaft. The upper run of the clothes line is then pushed through the gap between the side bar 15 and the pulley and under the pulley wheel, and then the ball terminal of the shaft is restored to its position in the upper end of the keyhole slot 17, thereby permanently locking the entire frame to the pulley shaft, and the guide on the clothes line.

The weight of the lower run of the pulley supported clothes line exerts a load pressure on the loop 11 to maintain the pulley in riding contact with the upper run of the clothes line. It is understood that any standard clothes line is involved, and these lines are commonly supported by free turning pulley wheels at their ends.

The pulley shaft 16 is also formed with an integral collar 16d, which is spaced inwardly of the ball terminal, so that a limited end play of the pulley shaft may be allowed.

It is understood that various changes in the details of construction, their combination and arrangement, may be carried out, without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the claim hereof.

Having described my invention, 1 claim as patentable:

A clothes line hanger comprising:

a generally U-shaped unitary frame having the closed end adapted to freely enclose a clothesline and the two side sections extending therefrom in side-by-side relation with a lateral spacing insutficient for passage of a clothesline after installation, said frame being resilient enough to permit lateral separation of said side sections during installation on a clothesline;

said side sections having at their free ends spaced apart portions to freely receive a clothesline with the free end of one side section having a keyhole-shaped aperture with the small end of said. aperture indented toward the free end of the other side section to form a socket;

The surface of side bar 15 in the region of the an axle having one end extending in loosely pivotal movable relation from a hole in the free end of said other side section, said axle having at its free end a narrow neck portion supporting a large ball which is small enough to pass easily through the large end, but too large to pass through the small end of said keyhole-shaped aperture, said ball being shaped to fit into said indented socket and to be held there by the resiliency of said side sections so as to inhibit escape through the large end of the aperture;

and a pulley riding in freely rotatable relation on said axle;

the hanger being so constructed and arranged that in use the hanger can be easily installed on an endless References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Donnan 254-109 Stockett 24-2482 Hiatt 254198 Devine 254198 Nissen 254-193 Smith 254-490 Wall 24-248.2

loop clothesline and when in place the upper and 15 SAMUEL F COLEMAN, P i E i 

